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| name=Minas Morgul
| name=Minas Morgul
| othernames=Minas Ithil, Tower of the Moon, Tower of the Rising Moon, Moon-tower, Tower of Black Sorcery, Dead City.
| othernames=Minas Ithil, Tower of the Moon, Tower of the Rising Moon, Moon-tower, Tower of Black Sorcery, Dead City.
| etymology=[[S.]] ''[[minas]]'' "tower" + ''[[mor]]'' "black, dark" + ''[[gûl]]'' "magic, sorcery"<br/>
| etymology=[[Sindarin|S.]] ''[[minas]]'' "tower" + ''[[morgul]]'' "black sorcery"<br/>
[[S.]] ''[[minas]]'' "tower" + ''[[ithil]]'' "moon"
[[Sindarin|S.]] ''[[minas]]'' "tower" + ''[[Moon#Other names|ithil]]'' "moon"
| type=Tower/City
| type=Tower/City
| location=on [[Ephel Dúath]], Western [[Mordor]]
| location=on [[Ephel Dúath]], Western [[Mordor]]
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| events=
| events=
| references=
| references=
|}}'''Minas Morgul''' (originally called '''Minas Ithil''') was the twin city of [[Minas Tirith (Gondor)|Minas Tirith]] before its fall to the forces of [[Sauron]] in the [[Third Age]].
|}}'''Minas Morgul''' (originally called '''Minas Ithil''') was the twin city of [[Minas Tirith]] before its fall to the forces of [[Sauron]] in the [[Third Age]].


==History==
==History==
===Second Age===
===Second Age===
After the destruction of [[Númenor]], [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion|Anárion]], the sons of [[Elendil]], landed in [[Gondor]]. Isildur built Minas Ithil near the mountainous border of [[Mordor]], while Anárion built [[Minas Anor]]. When [[Sauron]] returned after escaping Númenor's destruction, he attacked the exiles of Númenor, and his forces took Minas Ithil by storm. When the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] defeated Sauron in the year 3429 of the [[Second Age]], Minas Ithil was restored as a watchtower.
After the destruction of [[Númenor]], [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion]], the sons of [[Elendil]], landed in [[Gondor]]. Isildur built Minas Ithil near the mountainous border of [[Mordor]] from where he would rule the fief of [[Ithilien]]; while Anárion built [[Minas Anor]] to rule over the fief of [[Anórien]]. Minas Ithil housed a ''[[palantír]]'', the [[Ithil-stone]].
 
When [[Sauron]] returned after escaping [[Númenor]]'s destruction, he attacked the exiles of Númenor, and his forces [[Fall of Minas Ithil|took Minas Ithil]] by storm. When the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] defeated Sauron in the year {{SA|3429}}, Minas Ithil was restored as a watchtower.


===Third Age===
===Third Age===
In the year 1980 of the Third Age, the [[Nazgûl]] returned to Mordor (after the defeat of the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] in the north of Middle-earth).
In {{TA|1980}}, the [[Nazgûl]] returned to Mordor (after the defeat of the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]] in the north of Middle-earth).
The [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] laid siege to Minas Ithil shortly after their return, in 2002, and they took the city for their master, Sauron (who was still hidden at the time).
 
Minas Ithil was occupied by fell creatures, and it changed into a foul, evil place.  As a result, it came to be called Minas Morgul, which in the tongue of Gondor means "The Tower of Dark Sorcery". Its ''palantír'', the [[Ithil-stone]], was captured and later used by Sauron to influence Denethor during the War of the Ring.
The [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] laid siege to Minas Ithil shortly after their return, in {{TA|2002}}, and they took the city for their master, Sauron (who was still hidden at the time).
 
Minas Ithil was occupied by fell creatures, and it changed into a foul, evil place.  As a result, it came to be called Minas Morgul, which in the [[Gondor Sindarin|tongue of Gondor]] means "Tower of Dark Sorcery". The [[Ithil-stone]], was captured and later used by Sauron to influence [[Denethor|Denethor II]] during the War of the Ring.


Following the [[War of the Ring]], the bridge leading to [[Morgul Vale]] was pulled down by the Army of the West and its fields set aflame, and they met no opposition as the entire city's garrison had been killed at the Battle of Pelennor FieldsMinas Morgul abandoned and fell into decay as it had become too foul for human habitation. After the War of the Ring, [[Faramir|Faramir]] was made Prince of [[Ithilien]] by King [[Aragorn|Elessar]], who advised him to make his abode in the [[Emyn Arnen]] southeast of Minas Tirith.  Faramir ruled from there with his new bride [[Éowyn]], for King Elessar counseled that even though Minas Morgul was completely abandoned, the land was such a terror on the minds of Men that it would not be fit for habitation or even human contact for many years. Eventually, the city was rebuilt as Minas Ithil and the evil that tainted the land was at last gone.
During the [[Watchful Peace]] the lords of Morgul had secretly bred the [[Uruk-hai]], and in {{TA|2475}} these creatures assailed and overran Ithilien.
 
During the [[War of the Ring]], a host from Minas Morgul set forth toward [[Minas Tirith]]. The host was witnessed by Frodo, Sam and Gollum. After some [[Faramir's defense of Osgiliath|opposition in Osgiliath]], the Morgul-host proceeded to [[Pelennor]] and lay [[Siege of Gondor|siege]]. However the host, including the city's garrison was devastated during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].
 
Following the battle, the [[Army of the West]] pulled down the bridge leading to [[Morgul Vale]] and set its fields set aflame. They met no opposition as the entire city's garrison had been killed at the Battle.   
 
After the War of the Ring, [[Faramir]] was made [[Prince of Ithilien]] by King [[Aragorn|Elessar]], who advised him to make his abode in the [[Emyn Arnen]] southeast of Minas Tirith for even though Minas Morgul was completely abandoned, the land was such a terror on the minds of Men that it would not be fit for habitation or even mannish contact for many years. Eventually, the city was rebuilt as Minas Ithil and the evil that tainted the land was at last gone.


==Description==
==Description==
===City of the Nazgûl===
Terror and war were directed against [[Gondor]] from Minas Morgul until [[Ithilien]] was deserted. During the [[War of the Ring]], the army that attacked [[Osgiliath]] and undertook the [[Siege of Gondor]] came from Minas Morgul.


In fashion Minas Morgul seems to have been much like Minas Ithil, except for the replacement of beauty by terror. The top most course of the tower revolved slowly, and the walls of Morgul shone with a pale, frightening light.
In its prime, Minas Ithil was a beautiful place. The moon cast silver light throughout the courtyards and streets, and reflected off the marble walls, so that it seemed to shine. The houses also shone white. The city also had one tall tower, with many windows, that rotated slowly.
When it was taken by the forces of evil, the beauty was replaced by terror. The lovely white light was replaced by a sickly green glow, and dead things abounded around the city, which was now filled with spirits.
 
{{blockquote|Not the imprisoned moonlight welling through the marble walls of Minas Ithil long ago, Tower of the Moon, fair and radiant in the hollow of the hills. Paler indeed than the moon ailing in some slow eclipse was the light of it now, wavering and blowing like a noisome exhalation of decay, a corpse-light, a light that illuminated nothing.|[[The Stairs of Cirith Ungol]]}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
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[[Category:Mordor]]
[[Category:Mordor]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[Category:Fortresses of Evil]]
[[Category:Fortresses]]
[[Category:Cities, Towns and Villages]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]


[[de:Minas Morgul]]
[[de:Minas Morgul]]
[[fi:Minas Morgul]]
[[fi:Minas Morgul]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/mordor/minas_morgul]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/mordor/minas_morgul]]

Revision as of 12:59, 10 April 2014

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
Minas Morgul
Tower/City
Ted Nasmith - The Tower of the Moon.jpg
General Information
Other namesMinas Ithil, Tower of the Moon, Tower of the Rising Moon, Moon-tower, Tower of Black Sorcery, Dead City.
Locationon Ephel Dúath, Western Mordor
TypeTower/City
RegionsMordor
InhabitantsGondorians, Orcs
GalleryImages of Minas Morgul

Minas Morgul (originally called Minas Ithil) was the twin city of Minas Tirith before its fall to the forces of Sauron in the Third Age.

History

Second Age

After the destruction of Númenor, Isildur and Anárion, the sons of Elendil, landed in Gondor. Isildur built Minas Ithil near the mountainous border of Mordor from where he would rule the fief of Ithilien; while Anárion built Minas Anor to rule over the fief of Anórien. Minas Ithil housed a palantír, the Ithil-stone.

When Sauron returned after escaping Númenor's destruction, he attacked the exiles of Númenor, and his forces took Minas Ithil by storm. When the Last Alliance of Elves and Men defeated Sauron in the year S.A. 3429, Minas Ithil was restored as a watchtower.

Third Age

In T.A. 1980, the Nazgûl returned to Mordor (after the defeat of the Witch-king of Angmar in the north of Middle-earth).

The Ringwraiths laid siege to Minas Ithil shortly after their return, in T.A. 2002, and they took the city for their master, Sauron (who was still hidden at the time).

Minas Ithil was occupied by fell creatures, and it changed into a foul, evil place. As a result, it came to be called Minas Morgul, which in the tongue of Gondor means "Tower of Dark Sorcery". The Ithil-stone, was captured and later used by Sauron to influence Denethor II during the War of the Ring.

During the Watchful Peace the lords of Morgul had secretly bred the Uruk-hai, and in T.A. 2475 these creatures assailed and overran Ithilien.

During the War of the Ring, a host from Minas Morgul set forth toward Minas Tirith. The host was witnessed by Frodo, Sam and Gollum. After some opposition in Osgiliath, the Morgul-host proceeded to Pelennor and lay siege. However the host, including the city's garrison was devastated during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Following the battle, the Army of the West pulled down the bridge leading to Morgul Vale and set its fields set aflame. They met no opposition as the entire city's garrison had been killed at the Battle.

After the War of the Ring, Faramir was made Prince of Ithilien by King Elessar, who advised him to make his abode in the Emyn Arnen southeast of Minas Tirith for even though Minas Morgul was completely abandoned, the land was such a terror on the minds of Men that it would not be fit for habitation or even mannish contact for many years. Eventually, the city was rebuilt as Minas Ithil and the evil that tainted the land was at last gone.

Description

In its prime, Minas Ithil was a beautiful place. The moon cast silver light throughout the courtyards and streets, and reflected off the marble walls, so that it seemed to shine. The houses also shone white. The city also had one tall tower, with many windows, that rotated slowly. When it was taken by the forces of evil, the beauty was replaced by terror. The lovely white light was replaced by a sickly green glow, and dead things abounded around the city, which was now filled with spirits.

Not the imprisoned moonlight welling through the marble walls of Minas Ithil long ago, Tower of the Moon, fair and radiant in the hollow of the hills. Paler indeed than the moon ailing in some slow eclipse was the light of it now, wavering and blowing like a noisome exhalation of decay, a corpse-light, a light that illuminated nothing.
The Stairs of Cirith Ungol

See also